Relationship Between Social Support and Coping Strategies and Disease Among the Cancer Patients of the City of Kerman

Abstract

Background: Cancer pain affects coping strategies in patients. Besides, social protection is a tool that helps to alter the patient’s encounter with cancer. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between social support, coping, and disease strategies. Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, and conducted using a self-made social support questionnaire and the Billings and Mouse coping strategies questionnaire. The study population consisted of all the cancer patients in Kerman City, from September 2016 to March 2017; it was estimated to include 1400 people. Based on the Cochran formula, the study sample size was calculated as 300 cancer patients, which were collected using a systematic sampling method. Also, data analysis was carried out using the Pearson tests and regression in SPSS V. 21. Results: The results showed a statistically significant association of social support and coping with the disease strategies (P<0.01). Moreover, problem-focused coping has the most positive and direct relationship with social support. Regression analysis also showed that emotional aspects (kindness and shared positive actions), service-practical support, and financial support can predict the coping strategies with disease. Conclusion: According to the results, it is recommended to formulate a comprehensive care program and increase social support to enhance the problem-focused coping strategies among cancer patients.

What is the direction of the association between social support and coping in cancer patients? A systematic review

“…Only one study (Behen and Rodrigue, 1994) found no association between social support and coping in cancer patients. All the others demonstrated an important association between social support and coping (Maghsoodi and Salehinejad, 2020), especially for problem-focused coping (Tan, 2007). Individuals who were well-adjusted to cancer reported high levels of social support and great satisfaction with this support (Rodrigue et al, 1994).…”

“…Only one study (Behen and Rodrigue, 1994) found no association between social support and coping in cancer patients. All the other selected studies (Cao et al, 2018;Chan et al, 2004;Khater and Alkwiese, 2013;Maghsoodi and Salehinejad, 2020;Rodrigue et al, 1994;Tan, 2007;Tomai et al, 2019) reflected a significant association with a positive impact on family relationships (Yilmaz et al, 2015). However, the latter is a controversial result: family support was shown to have a negative association (Tan and Karabulutlu, 2005) or no association (Cicero et al, 2009) with hopelessness.…”

Türk Kadınlarında Meme Kanseri ile Başa Çıkma, Pozitif Büyüme ve Sosyal Desteğin İncelenmesi

“…Future research should aim for longitudinal studies to track changes in coping and growth over time and explore these phenomena in diverse cultural settings. Additionally, intervention studies could assess the effectiveness of specific support and coping strategies in enhancing positive growth (Maghsoodi & Salehinejad, 2020).…”